U.S. patent application number 15/637324 was filed with the patent office on 2018-06-21 for transparent conductive film.
This patent application is currently assigned to NANCHANG O-FILM DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.. The applicant listed for this patent is NANCHANG O-FILM DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD., SHENZHEN O-FILM TECH. CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Shuang DU, Xiaowei HOU, Peihong WANG.
Application Number | 20180170016 15/637324 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 59769708 |
Filed Date | 2018-06-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180170016 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
DU; Shuang ; et al. |
June 21, 2018 |
TRANSPARENT CONDUCTIVE FILM
Abstract
A transparent conductive film includes a substrate having
opposed first and second surfaces; a first hard coating layer
formed on the first surface; a first optical adjustment layer
formed on the first hard coating layer, the first optical
adjustment layer comprising a second binder resin and a plurality
of second particles distributed in the second binder resin; a first
transparent conductor layer formed on the first optical adjustment
layer, the first transparent conductor layer having a plurality of
protrusions on a surface thereof corresponding to the plurality of
second particles; a second hard coating layer formed on the second
surface; a second optical adjustment layer formed on the second
hard coating layer; and a second transparent conductor layer formed
on the second optical adjustment layer.
Inventors: |
DU; Shuang; (Nanchang,
CN) ; WANG; Peihong; (Nanchang, CN) ; HOU;
Xiaowei; (Nanchang, CN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
NANCHANG O-FILM DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
SHENZHEN O-FILM TECH. CO., LTD. |
Nanchang
Shenzhen |
|
CN
CN |
|
|
Assignee: |
NANCHANG O-FILM DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
CO., LTD.
Nanchang
CN
SHENZHEN O-FILM TECH. CO., LTD.
Shenzhen
CN
|
Family ID: |
59769708 |
Appl. No.: |
15/637324 |
Filed: |
June 29, 2017 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B32B 27/365 20130101;
B32B 2264/0221 20130101; G02B 5/0242 20130101; B32B 2264/025
20130101; G06F 3/044 20130101; B32B 2264/102 20130101; B32B 27/325
20130101; C23C 14/0042 20130101; H01B 1/22 20130101; B32B 27/40
20130101; B32B 27/281 20130101; B32B 2264/0235 20130101; G06F
3/0414 20130101; H01J 37/32431 20130101; B32B 17/10009 20130101;
C03C 17/42 20130101; C23C 14/024 20130101; G06F 3/041 20130101;
G06F 3/0412 20130101; C23C 14/086 20130101; G06F 3/0443 20190501;
H01L 51/5268 20130101; B32B 27/08 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B32B 27/08 20060101
B32B027/08; H01B 1/22 20060101 H01B001/22; C23C 14/02 20060101
C23C014/02; C23C 14/00 20060101 C23C014/00; B32B 17/10 20060101
B32B017/10; C03C 17/42 20060101 C03C017/42; C23C 14/08 20060101
C23C014/08; H01J 37/32 20060101 H01J037/32 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 19, 2016 |
CN |
201621393127.5 |
Claims
1. A transparent conductive film, comprising: a substrate having
opposed first and second surfaces; a first hard coating layer
formed on the first surface, the first hard coating layer
comprising a first binder resin and a plurality of first particles
distributed in the first binder resin; a first optical adjustment
layer formed on the first hard coating layer, the first optical
adjustment layer comprising a second binder resin and a plurality
of second particles distributed in the second binder resin; a first
transparent conductor layer formed on the first optical adjustment
layer, the first transparent conductor layer having a plurality of
protrusions on a surface thereof corresponding to the plurality of
second particles; a second hard coating layer formed on the second
surface; a second optical adjustment layer formed on the second
hard coating layer; and a second transparent conductor layer formed
on the second optical adjustment layer.
2. The transparent conductive film of claim 1, wherein the second
hard coating layer comprises the first binder resin and the
plurality of first particles distributed in the first binder resin,
the second optical adjustment layer comprises the second binder
resin and the plurality of second particles distributed in the
second binder resin.
3. The transparent conductive film of claim 1, wherein the first
particles and/or the second particles are substantially
sphere-shaped.
4. The transparent conductive film of claim 3, wherein the first
particle has a diameter of about 5% to about 25% of a thickness of
the first hard coating layer.
5. The transparent conductive film of claim 3, wherein the second
particle has a diameter of about 0.1 .mu.m to about 2 .mu.m.
6. The transparent conductive film of claim 1, wherein the first
hard coating layer and the second hard coating layer have a
thickness of about 1 .mu.m to about 3 .mu.m.
7. The transparent conductive film of claim 3, wherein the second
particle has a diameter greater than a thickness of the second
binder resin.
8. The transparent conductive film of claim 1, wherein the content
of the first particles is about 0.01 wt % to about 10 wt % of the
first hard coating layer.
9. The transparent conductive film of claim 2, wherein the content
of the first particles is about 0.01 wt % to about 10 wt % of the
second hard coating layer.
10. The transparent conductive film of claim 1, wherein the content
of the second particles is about 0.01 wt % to about 4.5 wt % of the
first optical adjustment layer.
11. The transparent conductive film of claim 2, wherein the content
of the second particles is about 0.01 wt % to about 4.5 wt % of the
second optical adjustment layer.
12. The transparent conductive film of claim 1, further comprising
a first metal layer formed on a surface of the first transparent
conductor layer away from the first optical adjustment layer and a
second metal layer formed on a surface of the second transparent
conductor layer away from the second optical adjustment layer.
13. The transparent conductive film of claim 1, further comprising
a first metal layer formed on a surface of the first transparent
conductor layer away from the first optical adjustment layer or a
second metal layer formed on a surface of the second transparent
conductor layer away from the second optical adjustment layer.
14. The transparent conductive film of claim 1, wherein the first
metal layer and/or the second metal layer has a thickness of about
50 nm to about 500 nm.
15. The transparent conductive film of claim 1, wherein the first
particles and the second particles are made of a material selected
from the group consisting of silica, silicone polymer, acrylic
polymer, and styrene polymer.
16. A transparent conductive film, comprising: a substrate having
opposed first and second surfaces; a first hard coating layer
formed on the first surface; a first optical adjustment layer
formed on the first hard coating layer, the first optical
adjustment layer comprising a binder resin and a plurality of
particles distributed in the binder resin; a first transparent
conductor layer formed on the first optical adjustment layer, the
first transparent conductor layer having a plurality of protrusions
on a surface thereof corresponding to the plurality of particles; a
first metal layer formed on the first transparent conductor layer;
a second hard coating layer formed on the second surface; a second
optical adjustment layer formed on the second hard coating layer,
the second optical adjustment layer comprising the binder resin and
the plurality of particles distributed in the binder resin; a
second transparent conductor layer formed on the second optical
adjustment layer, the second transparent conductor layer having a
plurality of protrusions on a surface thereof corresponding to the
plurality of particles; and a second metal layer formed on the
second transparent conductor layer.
17. The transparent conductive film of claim 16, wherein the
particle is substantially sphere-shaped and has a diameter of about
0.1 .mu.m to about 3 .mu.m.
18. The transparent conductive film of claim 16, wherein the first
optical adjustment layer and the second optical adjustment layer
have a thickness of about 0.1 .mu.m to about 2 .mu.m.
19. A capacitance-type touch panel, comprising a transparent
conductive film, wherein the transparent conductive film comprises:
a substrate having opposed first and second surfaces; a first hard
coating layer formed on the first surface, the first hard coating
layer comprising a first binder resin and a plurality of first
particles distributed in the first binder resin; a first optical
adjustment layer formed on the first hard coating layer, the first
optical adjustment layer comprising a second binder resin and a
plurality of second particles distributed in the second binder
resin; a first transparent conductor layer formed on the first
optical adjustment layer, the first transparent conductor layer
having a plurality of protrusions on a surface thereof
corresponding to the plurality of second particles; a second hard
coating layer formed on the second surface; a second optical
adjustment layer formed on the second hard coating layer; and a
second transparent conductor layer formed on the second optical
adjustment layer.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. .sctn. 119
to Chinese Patent Application No. 201621393127.5, filed on Dec. 19,
2016, the entire content of which is incorporated herein in its
entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present disclosure relates to conductive films, and more
particularly relates to a transparent conductive film used in a
capacitance-type touch panel.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] A conventional transparent conductive film comprises a
substrate, hard coating layers and transparent conductor layers
formed on both surfaces of the substrate. The conventional hard
coating layer includes a binder resin and a plurality of particles.
However, since the large diameter particles are directly added to
the hard coating layer, there is a problem that the transmittance
of the transparent conductive film is decreased, the haze and the
surface roughness is increased, thereby affecting the surface
appearance of the product and user experience.
SUMMARY
[0004] Therefore, it is necessary to provide a transparent
conductive film which can improve the transmittance, reduce the
haze and the roughness.
[0005] A transparent conductive film includes a substrate having
opposed first and second surfaces; a first hard coating layer
formed on the first surface, the first hard coating layer
comprising a first binder resin and a plurality of first particles
distributed in the first binder resin; a first optical adjustment
layer formed on the first hard coating layer, the first optical
adjustment layer comprising a second binder resin and a plurality
of second particles distributed in the second binder resin; a first
transparent conductor layer formed on the first optical adjustment
layer, the first transparent conductor layer having a plurality of
protrusions on a surface thereof corresponding to the plurality of
second particles; a second hard coating layer formed on the second
surface; a second optical adjustment layer formed on the second
hard coating layer; and a second transparent conductor layer formed
on the second optical adjustment layer.
[0006] A transparent conductive film includes a substrate having
opposed first and second surfaces; a first hard coating layer
formed on the first surface; a first optical adjustment layer
formed on the first hard coating layer, the first optical
adjustment layer comprising a binder resin and a plurality of
particles distributed in the binder resin; a first transparent
conductor layer formed on the first optical adjustment layer, the
first transparent conductor layer having a plurality of protrusions
on a surface thereof corresponding to the plurality of particles; a
first metal layer formed on the first transparent conductor layer;
a second hard coating layer formed on the second surface; a second
optical adjustment layer formed on the second hard coating layer,
the second optical adjustment layer comprising the binder resin and
the plurality of particles distributed in the binder resin; a
second transparent conductor layer formed on the second optical
adjustment layer, the second transparent conductor layer having a
plurality of protrusions on a surface thereof corresponding to the
plurality of particles; and a second metal layer formed on the
second transparent conductor layer.
[0007] A capacitance-type touch panel includes a transparent
conductive film, wherein the transparent conductive film includes a
substrate having opposed first and second surfaces; a first hard
coating layer formed on the first surface, the first hard coating
layer comprising a first binder resin and a plurality of first
particles distributed in the first binder resin; a first optical
adjustment layer formed on the first hard coating layer, the first
optical adjustment layer comprising a second binder resin and a
plurality of second particles distributed in the second binder
resin; a first transparent conductor layer formed on the first
optical adjustment layer, the first transparent conductor layer
having a plurality of protrusions on a surface thereof
corresponding to the plurality of second particles; a second hard
coating layer formed on the second surface; a second optical
adjustment layer formed on the second hard coating layer; and a
second transparent conductor layer formed on the second optical
adjustment layer.
[0008] The above and other features of the invention including
various novel details of construction and combinations of parts,
and other advantages, will now be more particularly described with
reference to the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the
claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] In the accompanying drawings, reference characters refer to
the same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are not
necessarily to scale; emphasis has instead been placed upon
illustrating the principles of the invention. Of the drawings:
[0010] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a transparent conductive
film according to a first embodiment;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a transparent conductive
film according to a second embodiment;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a transparent conductive
film according to a third embodiment;
[0013] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a transparent conductive
film according to a fourth embodiment;
[0014] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a transparent conductive
film according to a fifth embodiment;
[0015] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a transparent conductive
film according to a sixth embodiment;
[0016] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a transparent conductive
film according to a seventh embodiment; and
[0017] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a capacitance-type touch
panel according to an embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0018] Embodiments of the invention are described more fully
hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which
preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. The various
embodiments of the invention may, however, be embodied in many
different forms and should not be construed as limited to the
embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are
provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and
will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in
the art.
[0019] Referring to FIG. 1, a transparent conductive film 10
according to a first embodiment can be applied to display terminals
such as mobile phones, tablets or the like where a capacitance-type
touch panel is required. The transparent conductive film 10
includes a substrate 11 having opposed first surface 111 and second
surface 113. The transparent conductive film 10 further includes a
first hard coating layer 12, a first optical adjustment layer 13,
and a first transparent conductor layer 14, which are sequentially
laminated on the first surface 111. The transparent conductive film
10 further includes a second hard coating layer 22, a second
optical adjustment layer 23, and a second transparent conductor
layer 24, which are sequentially laminated on the second surface
113.
[0020] The substrate 11 may be formed by a crystalline polymer film
or a non-crystalline polymer film. Since the non-crystalline
polymer film has a less birefringence than that of the crystalline
polymer film and is more uniform, color irregularity in the
transparent conductive film 10 can be eliminated. The
non-crystalline polymer film used in the embodiment has an in-plane
birefringence of about 0 to about 0.001. In one embodiment, the
in-plane birefringence can range from about 0 to about 0.0005. The
non-crystalline polymer film used in the embodiment has an in-plane
birefringence irregularity of about 0.0005 or lower. In some
embodiments, the in-plane birefringence irregularity is about
0.0003 or lower. The aforementioned birefringence and birefringence
irregularity can be achieved by selecting a suitable type of
non-crystalline polymer film.
[0021] A material of the non-crystalline polymer film can be
polycarbonate, polycycloolefin or polyimide. The substrate 11
formed by the non-crystalline polymer film typically has a
thickness of about 20 .mu.m to about 200 .mu.m. The non-crystalline
polymer film may typically have a thin easily adhering layer (not
shown) made of poly urethane on a surface thereof.
[0022] The first hard coating layer 12 is formed on the first
surface 111 and the second hard coating layers 22 is formed on the
second surface 113. The first hard coating layer 12 includes a
first binder resin 17 and a plurality of first particles 16
distributed in the first binder resin 17. The first optical
adjustment layer 13 includes a second binder resin 19 and a
plurality of second particles 18 distributed in the second binder
resin 19. The plurality of first particles 16 and the plurality of
second particles 18 may be randomly distributed in the first binder
resin 17 near a surface thereof and the second binder resin 19,
respectively. It should be understood that, in alternative
embodiments, the plurality of first particles 16 and the plurality
of second particles 18 may also be evenly distributed in the first
binder resin 17 near a surface thereof and the second binder resin
19, respectively.
[0023] In the illustrated embodiments, the first particles 16 and
the second particles 18 are substantially sphere-shaped, such that
the processing difficulty can be reduced and the transparent
conductive film 10 is suitable for mass production. Furthermore,
the sphere-shaped particles can reduce the occurrence of puncturing
the transparent conductive film 10 due to the sharp contour of the
amorphous particles when the transparent conductive film 10 is
rolled up to a roll, thereby improving the production yield and
reducing the cost.
[0024] The plurality of first particles 16 are typically made of
acrylic polymer, silicone polymer, styrene polymer or inorganic
silica. In the case where the plurality of first particles 16 are
sphere-shaped, it has a diameter about 5% to about 25% of a
thickness of the first hard coating layer 12. In the case where the
plurality of first particles 16 are not sphere-shaped (for example,
in an amorphous form), each of first particles 16 has a height
(along a direction perpendicular to the surface of the substrate
11) of about 5% to about 25% of a thickness of the first hard
coating layer 12.
[0025] Physical properties and materials for the plurality of
second particles 18 are similar to those of first particles 16,
except that a particle size of the second particle 18 is greater
than that of the first particle 16. In some embodiments, the second
particle 18 has a diameter of about 0.1 .mu.m to about 2 .mu.m. If
the diameter of the second particle 18 is less than 0.1 .mu.m, the
performance of the anti-blocking is not enough. Otherwise, if the
diameter of the second particle 18 is greater than 2 .mu.m,
transmittance of the film decreases, and the roughness of the film
increases.
[0026] The first binder resin 17 and the second binder resin 19
typically include a UV curable resin composition or electron beams
curable resin composition. In one embodiment, the curable resin
composition contains a polymer obtained by subjecting glycidyl
acrylate-based polymer to an addition reaction with acrylic acid.
Alternatively, the curable resin composition contains
multifunctional acrylate polymer (e.g. pentaerythritol or
dipentaerythritol or the like). The curable resin composition
further includes a polymer initiator.
[0027] In the illustrated embodiments, the first hard coating layer
12 and the second hard coating layer 22 have a thickness of about 1
.mu.m to about 3 .mu.m, which is convenient to reduce the overall
thickness of the conductive film while ensuring that the damage
resistance of the transparent conductive film 10 is not reduced,
and to provide conditions for subsequent provision of ultra-thin
electronic products or mobile terminals. In alternative
embodiments, the second particle 18 has a diameter greater than a
thickness of the second binder resin 19, thus the surface of the
transparent conductive film 10 forms a plurality of protrusions to
improve the pressure bonding resistance.
[0028] The surface of the first hard coating layer 12 has an
arithmetic mean roughness Ra of about 0.005 .mu.m to about 0.05
.mu.m and has a maximum height Rz of about 0.5 .mu.m to about 2.5
.mu.m. This is similar to the arithmetic mean roughness Ra and the
maximum height Rz of the surface of the second hard coating layer
22.
[0029] In some embodiments, the first optical adjustment layer 13
is sandwiched between the first hard coating layer 12 and the first
transparent conductor layer 14. The second optical adjustment layer
23 is sandwiched between the second hard coating layer 22 and the
second transparent conductor layer 24. A refractive index of the
first optical adjustment layer 13 is configured to be at a mean
value between the refractive index of the first hard coating layer
12 and the first transparent conductor layer 14. A material of the
first optical adjustment layer 13 is selected from the group
consisting of silicone polymer, acrylate polymer, aromatic ring or
naphthalene ring polymer, zirconium oxide, titanium oxide, and
antimony oxide. The first optical adjustment layer 13 has a
thickness of about 100 nm to about 2000 nm. The thickness of the
second optical adjustment layer 23 is similar to that of the first
optical adjustment layer 13.
[0030] In the illustrated embodiment, the first transparent
conductor layer 14 forms a plurality of smaller protrusions 31 on a
surface thereof. The protrusions 31 result from the plurality of
smaller first particles 16 included at a corresponding position of
the first hard coating layer 12. The first transparent conductor
layer 14 further forms a plurality of larger protrusions 32. The
protrusions 32 result from the plurality of larger second particles
18 included in the first optical adjustment layer 13. The first
transparent conductor layer 14 has about 100 to about 2000
protrusions 31 and 32 per square millimeter, respectively.
[0031] When the transparent conductive film 10 is rolled up to a
roll, the first transparent conductive layer 14 and the second
transparent conductive layer 24 will contact with each other
through a point-to-surface manner rather than a direct
surface-to-surface manner, and the density of the point-to-surface
contact will also be increased, thus avoiding pressure blocking.
Additionally, in the production process of the conductive film 10,
particularly when the manufactured first optical adjustment layer
13 is rolled for the next process, the plurality of second
particles 18 may prevent the occurrence of undesirable conditions
such as pressure blocking of the optical adjustment layers 13 and
23.
[0032] The first transparent conductor layer 14 is formed on the
first optical adjustment layer 13. The first transparent conductor
layer 14 has a high transmittance (about 80% or higher) in a
visible light region (380 nm to 780 nm). The first transparent
conductor layer 14 is formed by a layer having a surface resistance
value (unit: .OMEGA./m.sup.2) per unit area of about 500.OMEGA. per
square or lower. The first transparent conductor layer 14 has a
thickness of about 10 nm to about 100 nm. In one embodiment, the
thickness can range from about 15 nm to about 50 nm. The first
transparent conductor layer 14 is typically made of any one of
indium tin oxide (ITO), indium zinc-oxide or indium oxide-zinc
oxide composite oxide. The second transparent conductor layer 24 is
formed on a surface of the second optical adjustment layer 23 away
from the substrate 11. Properties and a material for the second
transparent conductor layer 24 are similar to those for the first
transparent conductor layer 13.
[0033] The first transparent conductor layer 14 is patterned in a
later process and then the difference of the refractive index
between a portion with the first transparent conductor layer 14 and
a portion without the first transparent conductor layer 14 is
minimized to prevent patterns of the first transparent conductor
layer 14 from being viewed by the first optical adjustment layer
13. Functions of the second optical adjustment layer 23 are similar
to the above.
[0034] By adding the plurality of first particles 16 into the first
hard coating layer 12 and the second hard coating layer 22, and
adding the plurality of second particles 18 into the first optical
adjustment layer 13 and the second optical adjustment layer 23, the
aforementioned transparent conductive film 10 can not only prevent
pressure blocking when the conductive film is rolled up, but also
reduce the haze value and the roughness of the transparent
conductive film 10, decrease the light reflection due to the large
particles, and improve its light transmittance, thereby improve the
appearance of the product and the user experience.
[0035] Referring to FIG. 2, a transparent conductive film 20
according to a second embodiment is substantially the same as the
transparent conductive film 10 in the first embodiment. The
difference is that, the transparent conductive film 20 further
includes a first metal layer 15 formed on a surface of the first
transparent conductor layer 14 away from the first optical
adjustment layer 13, and a second metal layer 25 formed on a
surface of the second transparent conductor layer 24 away from the
second optical adjustment layer 23. In alternative embodiments, the
transparent conductive film 20 may include a first metal layer 15
formed on a surface of the first transparent conductor layer 14
away from the first optical adjustment layer 13 or a second metal
layer 25 formed on a surface of the second transparent conductor
layer 24 away from the second optical adjustment layer 23. This
simplifies the process and saves cost.
[0036] The first metal layer 15 is used to form wirings outside a
touch input region when using the transparent conductive film of
the embodiment for a touch panel. A material of the first metal
layer 15 and/or the second metal layer 25 is typically copper,
silver, nickel, or alloy thereof, and any other metal excellent in
conductivity is also used. In one embodiment, the first metal layer
15 has a thickness of about 50 nm to about 500 nm. In another
embodiment, the thickness can range from about 100 nm to about 300
nm. The uses and the thickness of the second metal layer 25 is
similar to those of the first metal layer 15. Such arrangements
minimizes the overall thickness of the conductive film, providing
conditions for subsequent provision of ultra-thin electronic
products or mobile terminals.
[0037] The surface of the first metal layer 15 is similar to that
of the first transparent conductor layer 14 and has a plurality of
protrusions 31 and 32 in a random or regular manner. The first
metal layer 15 has about 100 to about 5,000 protrusions 31 and 32
per square millimeter, respectively. In one embodiment, the first
metal layer 15 has about 100 to about 1,000 protrusions 31 and 32
per square millimeter. The surface of the first metal layer 15 has
an arithmetic mean roughness Ra of about 0.005 .mu.m to about 0.05
.mu.m. In one embodiment, the arithmetic mean roughness Ra can
range from about 0.005 .mu.m to about 0.03 .mu.m. The surface of
the first metal layer 15 has a maximum height Rz of about 0.5 .mu.m
to about 3.0 .mu.m. In one embodiment, the maximum height Rz can
range from about 0.5 .mu.m to about 2.0 .mu.m. It is possible to
change the arithmetic mean roughness Rz and the maximum height Rz
of the surface of the first metal layer 15 by adjusting the shape,
the size, and the content of respective particles 16 and 18. The
surface shape of the second transparent conductor layer 24 is
reflected in the surface of the second metal layer 25. In some
embodiments, the surface of the second metal layer 25 has a
plurality of protrusions 33 and 34 distributed in a random or
regular manner. The surface roughness of the second metal layer 25
is similar to that of the first metal layer 15.
[0038] When the transparent conductive film 20 is rolled up, the
surface of the first metal layer 15 will contact with the surface
of the second metal layer 25. There are a plurality of protrusions
31 and 32 randomly or evenly distributed on the surface.
Accordingly, the first metal layer 15 may contact with the surface
of the second metal layer 25 through a point-to-surface manner.
This makes it possible to prevent the first metal layer 15 and the
second metal layer 25 to be bonded by pressing.
[0039] The first metal layer 15 and the second metal layer 25 are
provided in the transparent conductive film 20 to facilitate the
use of the transparent conductive film 20 for a touch panel to
forming an electrode wiring in the non-display region of the touch
panel. It is thus possible to avoid the problem that the
sensitivity of the signal transmission is reduced and the power
consumption is increased caused by using a material having a larger
impedance same as the transparent conductor layers (14 or 24)
(commonly known as indium tin oxide (ITO)) to produce a frame
electrode wiring.
[0040] Referring to FIG. 3, a transparent conductive film 30
according to a third embodiment is substantially the same as the
transparent conductive film 10 in the first embodiment. The
difference is that, the second hard coating layer 22 includes the
first binder resin 17 and the plurality of first particles 16
distributed in the first binder resin 17, the second optical
adjustment layer 23 includes the second binder resin 19 and the
plurality of second particles 18 distributed in the second binder
resin 19. The plurality of first particles 16 and the plurality of
second particles 18 may be randomly distributed in the first binder
resin 17 near a surface thereof and the second binder resin 19,
respectively. It should be understood that, in alternative
embodiments, the plurality of first particles 16 and the plurality
of second particles 18 may also be evenly distributed in the first
binder resin 17 near a surface thereof and the second binder resin
19, respectively.
[0041] In the illustrated embodiment, the second transparent
conductor layer 24 forms a plurality of smaller protrusions 33 on a
surface thereof. The protrusions 33 result from the plurality of
smaller first particles 16 included at a corresponding position of
the second hard coating layer 22. The second transparent conductor
layer 24 further forms a plurality of larger protrusions 34. The
protrusions 34 result from the plurality of larger second particles
18 included in the second optical adjustment layer 23. The second
transparent conductor layer 24 has about 100 to about 5000
protrusions 33 and 34 per square millimeter, respectively.
[0042] With respect to the transparent conductive film 10, the
transparent conductive film 30 forms a plurality of protrusions 31,
32, 33 and 34 on the opposed surfaces thereof, such that when the
transparent conductive film 30 is rolled up to a roll, the first
transparent conductive layer 14 will contact with the second
transparent conductive layer 24 by protrusions 32 and protrusions
34, i.e., through a point-to-point manner rather than a
point-to-surface manner in the first embodiment, thus the
prevention effects for pressure bonding is better. Additionally, in
the production process of the conductive film 30, particularly when
the manufactured second optical adjustment layer 23 is rolled for
the next process, the plurality of second particles 18 may prevent
the occurrence of undesirable conditions such as pressure bonding
of the optical adjustment layers 13 and 23.
[0043] In some embodiments, the content of the first particles 16
is about 0.01 wt % to about 10 wt % of the first hard coating layer
12. The content of the first particles 16 is about 0.01 wt % to
about 10 wt % of the second hard coating layer 22. The higher the
weight content of the first particles 16, the higher the haze value
of the transparent conductive film 30, the lower the light
transmittance, whereas the better the prevention effects for
pressure bonding. It has been experimentally demonstrated that when
the content of the first particles 16 is about 0.01 wt % to about
10 wt % of the first hard coating layer 12, the content of the
first particles 16 is about 0.01 wt % to about 10 wt % of the
second hard coating layer 22, the transparent conductive film 30
has an optimal pressure bonding resistance and a favorable light
transmittance.
[0044] In alternative embodiments, the content of the second
particles 18 is about 0.01 wt % to about 4.5 wt % of the first
optical adjustment layer 13. The content of the second particles 18
is about 0.01 wt % to about 4.5 wt % of the second optical
adjustment layer 23. The higher the weight content of the plurality
of second particles 18, the higher the haze value of the
transparent conductive film 30, the lower the light transmittance,
whereas the better the prevention effects for pressure bonding. It
has been experimentally demonstrated that when the content of the
second particles 18 is about 0.01 wt % to about 4.5 wt % of the
first optical adjustment layer 13, the content of the second
particles 18 is about 0.01 wt % to about 4.5 wt % of the second
optical adjustment layer 23, the transparent conductive film 30 has
an optimal pressure bonding resistance and a favorable light
transmittance.
[0045] Referring to FIG. 4, a transparent conductive film 40
according to a fourth embodiment is substantially the same as the
transparent conductive film 30 in the third embodiment. The
difference is that, the transparent conductive film 40 further
includes a first metal layer 15 formed on a surface of the first
transparent conductor layer 14 away from the first optical
adjustment layer 13, and a second metal layer 25 formed on a
surface of the second transparent conductor layer 24 away from the
second optical adjustment layer 23. In alternative embodiments, the
transparent conductive film 40 may include a first metal layer 15
formed on a surface of the first transparent conductor layer 14
away from the first optical adjustment layer 13 or a second metal
layer 25 formed on a surface of the second transparent conductor
layer 24 away from the second optical adjustment layer 23. This
simplifies the process and saves cost.
[0046] The first metal layer 15 and the second metal layer 25 are
provided in the transparent conductive film 40 to facilitate the
use of the transparent conductive film 40 for a touch panel to
forming an electrode wiring in the non-display region of the touch
panel. It is thus possible to avoid the problem that the
sensitivity of the signal transmission is reduced and the power
consumption is increased caused by using a material having a larger
impedance same as the transparent conductor layers (14 or 24)
(commonly known as indium tin oxide (ITO)) to produce a frame
electrode wiring.
[0047] Referring to FIG. 5, a transparent conductive film 50
according to a fifth embodiment is substantially the same as the
transparent conductive film 30 in the third embodiment. The
difference is that, the plurality of first particles 16 in the
transparent conductive film 50 are distributed in the first binder
resin 17 near a surface thereof and in the interior thereof rather
than only near the surface thereof, the plurality of first
particles 16 are also distributed in the first binder resin 17 near
a surface thereof and in the interior thereof rather than only near
the surface thereof.
[0048] Compared to the transparent conductive film 30, the
distribution of the first particles 16 in the interior of the first
binder resin 17 may appropriately control the adjustment of the
haze value of the transparent conductive film 50 within an
appropriate range, such as about 0.5 to about 3. This may make the
user difficult to detect the fine damage of the substrate 11 while
ensuring better visibility of the conductive film.
[0049] Referring to FIG. 6, a transparent conductive film 60
according to a sixth embodiment is substantially the same as the
transparent conductive film 50 in the fifth embodiment. The
difference is that, the transparent conductive film 60 further
includes a first metal layer 15 formed on a surface of the first
transparent conductor layer 14 away from the first optical
adjustment layer 13, and a second metal layer 25 formed on a
surface of the second transparent conductor layer 24 away from the
second optical adjustment layer 23. In alternative embodiments, the
transparent conductive film 60 may include a first metal layer 15
formed on a surface of the first transparent conductor layer 14
away from the first optical adjustment layer 13 or a second metal
layer 25 formed on a surface of the second transparent conductor
layer 24 away from the second optical adjustment layer 23. This
simplifies the process and saves cost.
[0050] The first metal layer 15 and the second metal layer 25 are
provided in the transparent conductive film 60 to facilitate the
use of the transparent conductive film 60 for a touch panel to
forming an electrode wiring in the non-display region of the touch
panel. It is thus possible to avoid the problem that the
sensitivity of the signal transmission is reduced and the power
consumption is increased caused by using a material having a larger
impedance same as the transparent conductor layers (14 or 24)
(commonly known as indium tin oxide (ITO)) to produce a frame
electrode wiring.
[0051] When the transparent conductive films 40, 60 are rolled up,
the surface of the first metal layer 15 will contact with the
surface of the second metal layer 25. There are a plurality of
protrusions 31 and 32 randomly or evenly distributed on the surface
of the first metal layer 15. And there are a plurality of
protrusions 33 and 34 randomly or evenly distributed on the surface
of the second metal layer 25. Accordingly, the first metal layer 15
will contact with the second metal layer 25 through a
point-to-point manner. This enables to prevent blocking of the
first metal layer 15 and the second metal layer 25. Performance for
preventing blocking of the first metal layer 15 and the second
metal layer 25 are better than those in the foregoing
embodiments.
[0052] Referring to FIG. 7, a transparent conductive film 70
according to a seventh embodiment is substantially the same as the
transparent conductive film 60 in the sixth embodiment. The
difference is that, the transparent conductive film 70 only
includes a plurality of particles 18 in the first optical
adjustment layer 13 and the second optical adjustment layer 23,
thus the first metal layer 15 has a plurality of protrusions 32 on
a surface thereof and the second metal layer 25 has a plurality of
protrusions 34 on a surface thereof. The plurality of protrusions
32 and 34 are resulted from the plurality of particles 18 included
in the first optical adjustment layer 13 and the second optical
adjustment layer 23
[0053] With respect to the transparent conductive film 60, the
transparent conductive film 70 can reduce a process of adding
particles to the first hard coating layer 12 and the second hard
coating layer 22, thereby improving the yield and saving the cost.
Furthermore, while ensuring that the damage resistance of the hard
coating layers 12 and 22 is not reduced, a plurality of particles
18 may ensure that when the transparent conductive film 10 is
rolled up to a roll, the first transparent conductive layer 14 will
contact with the second transparent conductive layer 24 by
protrusions 32 and protrusions 34, i.e., through a point-to-point
manner rather than a point-to-surface manner in the first
embodiment, thus the prevention effects for pressure blocking is
better.
[0054] One example of a method for manufacturing a transparent
conductive film 60 will now be described below. First, a hard
coating agent is applied to one surface of a substrate 11. The hard
coating agent includes a first binder resin 17 and a plurality of
first particles 16 distributed in the first binder resin 17. Next,
the hard coating agent is applied to the other surface of the
substrate 11. And then the hard coating agent is cured by the
irradiation of ultraviolet rays with the hard coating agent applied
to both surfaces of the substrate 11 to form a first hard coating
layer 12 and a second hard coating layer 22. Next, an optical
adjustment agent is applied to a surface of the first hard coating
layer 12 and an optical adjustment agent is applied to a surface of
the second hard coating layer 22. The optical adjustment agent
includes a second binder resin 19 and a plurality of second
particles 18 distributed in the second binder resin 19.
Subsequently, ultraviolet rays are irradiated with the optical
adjustment agent applied onto the first hard coating layer 12 and
the optical adjustment agent applied onto the second hard coating
layer 22 to cause the optical adjustment agent to be cured to form
a first optical adjustment layer 13 and a second optical adjustment
layer 23. Subsequently, a first transparent conductor layer 13 and
a first metal layer 15 are sequentially laminated on a surface of
the first optical adjustment layer 13 by a sputtering method or the
like. It is possible to sequentially laminate the first transparent
conductor layer 14 and the first metal layer 15 by providing a
target for a transparent conductor layer and a target for a metal
layer in a sputtering apparatus. Similarly, the second transparent
conductor layer 24 and the second metal layer 25 are sequentially
laminated on a surface of the second optical adjustment layer
23.
[0055] Referring to FIG. 8, a capacitance-type touch panel 100
according to an embodiment includes the aforementioned transparent
conductive film 10 (having been patterned further). In the
illustrated embodiment, the capacitance-type touch panel 100
further includes a cover lens 80 disposed on a surface of the
transparent conductive film 10.
[0056] Although the respective embodiments have been described one
by one, it shall be appreciated that the respective embodiments
will not be isolated. Those skilled in the art can apparently
appreciate upon reading the disclosure of this application that the
respective technical features involved in the respective
embodiments can be combined arbitrarily between the respective
embodiments as long as they have no collision with each other. Of
course, the respective technical features mentioned in the same
embodiment can also be combined arbitrarily as long as they have no
collision with each other.
[0057] The foregoing descriptions are merely specific embodiments
of the present invention, but are not intended to limit the
protection scope of the present invention. Any variation or
replacement readily figured out by a person skilled in the art
within the technical scope disclosed in the present invention shall
all fall within the protection scope of the present invention.
Therefore, the protection scope of the present invention shall be
subject to the protection scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *